Pesticide Storage Concerns During a Flood Prevention And Emergency Response

Safe
pesticide storage is of critical importance in both everyday
and disaster situations. Not only can improperly stored pesticides
pose significant hazards to humans, but they can do great
harm to the environment, including surface water and groundwater
contamination. Combined with floodwaters, pesticides can create
a widespread health problem by threatening drinking supplies.

For
all of these reasons, take preventive measures to minimize
storage quantities and potential exposure to floodwaters.
Take extra precautions if you live in a floodplain or expect
flooding. If flooding of pesticides occurs, be sure you follow
safe, legal methods for emergency response, containment and
clean-up.

PREVENTION

Choose
a safe location. If at all possible, locate pesticides
in an area where flooding is not likely. A good location
will be downwind and downhill from sensitive areas, such
as homes and play areas, ponds or streams.

Update
your pesticide storage design. Contact your local Extension
agent or the Midwest Plan Service for modern pesticide storage
plans. Safety is a major criterion in new designs, as well
as efficiency for farmers. Features may include a mixing
and loading pad, a drainage system to collect contaminated
runoff, a worker safety area and a separate area for your
personal protective clothing and equipment.

Keep
pesticide storage to a minimum. The fewer pesticides
on site, the less you have to worry about. Consider the
following:

Contract
to have pesticides applied. This eliminates storage and
most liability concerns.

Clean
out existing inventories. If a pesticide is still registered
for use, give it to a producer who can legally use it.
If it is no longer registered, dispose of it at a county
Agricultural Clean Sweep program.

Purchase
only enough pesticide for a single season.

Take
extra care with water-permeable containers. Dry formulations
packed in paper bags, fiber drums, cardboard boxes or similar
containers should be stored on metal shelves. Do not store
liquid pesticides on shelves above dry formulations.

If
flooding is imminent, move pesticides (especially those
in unsealed or water-permeable containers) to a higher storage
location. Use caution in moving containers - wear protective
gear as necessary.

Develop
an emergency response plan in case of a leak, spill or fire.
Because of hazardous substances on you farm, you may
be required to develop a plan under the Superfund Amendments
Reauthorization Act (SARA) Title III. SARA requires farmers
who have any of 360 extremely hazardous substances at 500
pounds or the threshold planning quantity to alert the State
Emergency Response Board (SERB) with a Planning Notification
Fee Statement. An off-site plan identifying the substances
and their location on the farm must be developed with final
plan copies sent to the local fire department, your Local
Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) and SERB. Contact the
Wisconsin Division of Emergency Government for more information.

IF FLOODING HAS
OCCURRED

If you
suspect flooding of pesticide storage areas, use great caution
in investigating the immediate area - floodwaters may be contaminated
with pesticides. Wear appropriate protective clothing, particularly
safety boots, to avoid exposure.

If a
release of pesticides has occurred, you are required by the
Wisconsin Spill Law to notify local and state authorities.
Local authorities include your Local Emergency Planning Committee.
You can meet state reporting requirements by calling the Wisconsin
Division of Emergency Government Spill Hotline at (800) 943-0003.
This hotline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The
duty officer at the Spill Hotline or your LEPC can help you
determine if federal notification is needed.

Emergency
hotline personnel will gather information about the pesticide
release and make response decisions. Emergency response professionals
in your area will be notified to serve as the first responders
to the flood site, as necessary. Some possible scenarios:

For
minimal flooding or leakage from paper containers, officials
may provide you with specific clean-up instructions. For
example, you may be asked to place the water-damaged pesticide
into a secondary waste container and to dispose of it at
the next Agricultural Clean Sweep event.

If
moderate flooding has occurred, containment and clean-up
may be feasible. Area emergency response professionals
may be sent to the site. Technical guidance from the DNR
and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer
Protection will be provided, as necessary.

If
major flooding has already occurred, containment may be
impossible and clean-up minimal. Check your storage
inventory to determine if product is missing. If so, inform
your LEPC about types of pesticides and approximate amounts
removed by floodwaters.

CONTAIN THE AREA

Take
steps to prevent further release of the pesticides if possible
and feasible. Put smaller containers that are leaking into
larger containers. Wear protective clothing and equipment
so you do not needlessly expose yourself to the material in
the process of stopping the spill.

At the
same time the leak is being controlled, contain the spill
material to the area; if possible, construct a dam to prevent
the chemical from spreading.

WATCH FOR PESTICIDE
POISONING

Be
aware of any illness arising after handling pesticides or
pesticide wastes. Acute symptoms of poisoning frequently include
headache, nausea, diarrhea, visual disturbances, excessive
salivation or sweating, difficulty in breathing, weakness,
tremors or convulsions. Acute symptoms usually appear immediately
or within a few hours after exposure. See a doctor immediately
or contact your local poison control center if symptoms appear.

Additional resources:

Your local emergency government office, the Wisconsin Division of Emergency Government, your county agricultural agent